For the Record: Are multi-resort passes like the Epic and Ikon offerings good for skiing?

Each week, The Park Record asks For the Record, encouraging residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. This week, as this skiing season draws to a close, ski resorts are already advertising passes for next season. The two big players in town, Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company, released their pricing for their respective multi-resort season passes, the Ikon Pass and the Epic Pass.

While Park City businesses are seeing a strong economy this season, large crowds coming to utilize their multi-resort passes have caused some local consternation. The Park Record wanted to know whether or not people believe the passes are good for the industry.

“I own a business in town and it’s helped us tremendously, but the skier experience is different. A lot more people on the mountain, access is not the same. It will be hard to dispute (the resorts’) numbers, and they will like what happened, as opposed to me as a skier, it’s a lot more crowded.”

Gillian Hunter, Salt Lake City

“I could argue both sides. Ultimately, the cool thing about (a lower price) is it has made the sport a lot less elitist, and it becomes more available to more people, which I think is cool. But, then you get lots of people on the ski hill; but all in all, I think it’s good for tourism and the state.”

Carol Wrenn, Bernardsville, New Jersey

“I think it gives you flexibility and it allows you to take advantage of short days. It seems to be good for the industry, but I don’t know whether not always good for us. Our favorite place to ski is Solidute, and now it’s crowded. But it’s getting more people out skiing.”

Dax Massengill, Heber City

“I think they’re great. It draws more people in fro all over the country. It doesn’t help the local (resorts) as far as (their own) passes go, but overall it draws more people, more people are staying at hotels and that sort of stuff.”